After starting the season with a majority of their games at home, the Boston
Celtics are about to embark on a lengthy road stretch. They’ve had success on
the road but haven’t faced the stiffest of competition.

The Celtics (12-4) have played 10 times at home, but seven of their next
eight will be away from Boston. They’re 5-1 on the road, playing against teams
already jockeying for position in next year’s draft lottery.

Boston won at Cleveland 95-89 in its season opener, but the other teams it’s
played on the road - Philadelphia, Minnesota, New Jersey, Indiana and New York -
have a combined record of 15-63. The Celtics’ lone road defeat was 113-104 to
the Pacers on Nov. 14.

Things likely won’t be as easy over this next stretch with three of the four
teams on this trip - Miami (9-6), San Antonio and Oklahoma City - all boasting
records over .500.

The Celtics arrive in Miami following Friday’s 116-103 victory over Toronto.

Somewhat surprisingly, the offense has been leading the way during this
winning streak.

While the offense is rolling, the defense hasn’t been up to the team’s
normal standards.

Boston has yielded at least 100 points in each of its last three after
letting two of its first 13 opponents top the century mark.

The defense came out flat again Friday and with his team trailing 55-54 at
the half, coach Doc Rivers told his players, “The first team that plays defense
wins, guys.”

The Celtics responded by forcing four turnovers during a 13-0 run early in
the second half and limited the Raptors to 17 third-quarter points.

“We did defend, and it turned the game around for us,” Rivers said. “We were
just having a feel-good game: You score, pat them on the back, and then they
score. We call it ‘Buddy Ball.’ Then we stopped.”

They’ll try to get their defensive issues straightened out against a Miami
team that has scored 100 or more four times.

The Heat are coming off Friday’s 94-84 loss to Washington, their fourth
defeat in six games after opening 7-2.

Wade had a difficult time getting in rhythm, finishing 6 of 19 from the
field for 18 points, his second-fewest of the season.

“I just have to concentrate on hitting more shots,” said Wade, averaging
27.1 points. “They threw a lot of double teams at me but I have to find a way to
work around it and get more open shots.”

Wade didn’t have much trouble scoring against the Celtics last season,
averaging 29.3 points on 50.9 percent shooting in three games. Despite Wade’s
solid production, the Heat went 1-3 against Boston and have lost eight of the
last nine meetings.

Allen led the way for the Celtics against Miami in 2008-09, averaging 25.0
points and shooting 63.6 percent (14 of 22) from 3-point range in three games.